Inking arrangement for rotary printing presses



May 16, 1939. w. N MISURACA 2,158,474

INKING ARRANGEMENT FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 18, 1937 2 Sheets- Sheet l R O T N E V m "Zillz'am MMzlSuraaz W, M w M ATTORNEYS May 16, 1939. w. N. MISURACA 2,158,474

INKING ARRANGEMENT FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Wi'llzkzm 1V Mllmraca ATTORNEYS Patented May 16, 1939 I 2,158,474

INKING ARRANGEMENT FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES William N. Misuraca, Merrick, N. Y., assignor to General Printing Ink Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 18, 1937, Serial No. 131,590

9 Claims. (Cl. 101350) My invention relates to an improved inking opposite sides thereof, the intermediate rollers arrangement for a rotaryprinting press. are coactable, these rollers 5 coacting with the In accordance with an important phase of my aforesaid rider rollers 3, respectively. Disposed invention, the ink to be used in the printing operabove that intermediate roller 5 at the right,

5 ation is transferred in a novel and advantageous Fig. 1, is the ink-distributing roller 6, this being 5 manner from the fountain roller of the printing the final roller of the series of ink-distributing press to an ink-distributing roller included in the rollers and said roller 6 coacting with the ink mechanism of said printing press. drum 4 as shown. Coactable with the rollers 5 In accordance with another important l lhesei. .and 6 is a rider roller 1. of my invention,-an auxiliary"rolleTpHsitioned As illustrated in Fig. 1, a series of ink-dis- 10 adjacent the fountain roller is so controlled that tributing rollers 8, 9, I0 are disposed above the it may be utilized or left idle at will when transink drum 4, the roller 8 coactin Wit t e aforeferring ink from the fountain roller to the afore- Said r0 16 he 1'011er 9 COact With the roller said-.ink-distributing roller, 8, and the roller l0 coasting with the roller 9.

Various other objects, advantages and h r- Coactable with the rollers 8 and I0 is a rider 15 acteristics of my invention will become apparent ro from the f0110wing d tailed description The construction described above is conven- For an understanding of my invention and for tional in the art. It will be understood that the an illustration of one of the forms thereof, refus y de t e drum and the rollers are erence is to be had to the accompanying drawl y jeulneled in the Side frames F, F1 0f 20 jn s, in hich; the printing press and that these parts'are oper- Figure 1 is an l ati l i w showing th ated in the manner well understood in the art.

inking arrangement of my invention; Further, the usual metal-to-rubber construction Fig, 2 is an elevational iew of the arrange- I is illustrated in Fig. 4:, the rollers 5, 6, for examm rit sho i Fig 1; ple, having rubber peripheries and the roller 1 25 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly and drum 4 having metal p p s.

in elevation, showing a part of the mechanism suitably Secured, as y bolts t0 ho of Figs 1 d 2; zontal surfaces of the respective side frame ex- Fig. 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional tensions f, f is a ppo ember B which view, artly in l vati n, showing th inking extends transversely between said side frame ex- 30 rangement of my invention; tensions and comprises a pair of spaced, up-

Fig. 5 is an enlarged l ti l i partly standing sections l3a; I311 to which are connected in section, showing a different position of some the respective w sections 3 The pportin of the operating parts; and member 13 further comprises a section I 30 dis- Figs. 6 and '7 are schematic views illustrating s d w n t sections I311, 311, t s s t on 35 features of m invention l3c serving as a support for a plate l4, said sec- Referring to the drawings. F and F1 represent tion I30 and the plate I4 being int ally formed the side frames of the printing press, these side or suitably secured together, as y screws l5. frames, as well understood in the art, serving as The plate upp a l de "i which is Suit- 40 the support for the various cylinders, rollers. etc. ably Secured thereto, as by the C S e 40 forming the operating parts of said printing length of the blade. I6 is the same as the dispress, As indi t d in Figs 1 and 4 t side tance between interior surfaces of the aforesaid frames F, F1 comprise the respective frame exupstanding Supporting e er Sections I311, I311. tensions 1, fi utilizable as hereinafter described, Coeeteble With the blade are plurality of these frame extensions being in alinement trans- Screws [8 which are threaded through the afore- 45 versely of the machine. said supporting member section I30 and which It shall e u t d t t t priming press coact with the lower surface of said blade l6. may be one which comprises the usual impres- The aforesaid upstand ng supp r mem r sion andblanket cylinders, not shown. Dis osed sections 3 13 f m bearin s f r the shaft ends above the blanket cylinder is a plate cylinder I p es IQ of the fountain roller 20 with which 50 with which the usual form rollers 2 cooperate, the aforesaid blade 16 is coactable as hereinafter sets of the rollers 2 being engaged by the respecdescribed. Loosely mounted on one shaft end l9 tive rider rollers 3. is a collar 2| having an arm 22 formed integrally Disposed above the plate cylinder I the therewith. Pivoted at 23 to this arm 22 is a usual ink drum 4 with which, on the respective connecting arm 24 terminating in an eccentric strap 25 coactable with an eccentric 26 secured to and rotatable with one end of the shaft 4a of the aforesaid ink drum 4. Pivoted at 24a to the aforesaid arm 22 is a pawl 25a coactable with a ratchet wheel 26 secured to and rotatable with the same shaft end I9 to which the aforesaid collar 2i is secured.

Each of the aforesaid frame extensions 1, f1 is provided with an open slot 21, these slots being alined transversely of the machine. Adjacent each slot 21, a pair of inclined track members 28 are suitably secured to the adjacent frame extension, as by bolts 29, or equivalent, each pair of these track members forming an inclined track for a slide 30, the tracks being inclined to the same extent. The slides 30 form bearings for the respective shaft ends or pintles 3| of an auxiliary roller 32, one shaft end 3! having secured thereto a gear wheel 32a adapted to mesh with a gear wheel 33a. secured to and rotatable with the adjacent shaft end It.

Each slide 38 is threaded for the reception of a bolt 34 which is secured in fixed position by a lock nut 35, each bolt 34 terminating in a disk 36. These disks 36 are coactable, respectively, with eccentrics 31 secured to a horizontal shaft 38 rotatably mounted in the aforesaid frame extensions 1, f1. At the exterior surface of the frame member F1, the shaft 38 carries a worm wheel 39 which meshes with a worm 40 mounted on a stub shaft 4! rotatably mounted in the bifurcations of a bracket 42 suitable secured to the frame extension f1, as by the screws '43. The shaft 4| at its free end, carries a hand wheel 44 utilizable for adjustment purposes. Further, it is'desirable for the shaft 4| to carry a circular collar 45 bearing a scale or index 46 coactable with a pointer 41 carried by the aforesaid bracket 43.

Suitably mounted in bearings in the aforesaid frame members F, F1 is an oscillatory shaft 48 to which, adjacent the interior surface of each of said frame members F, F1, an upstanding arm 49 is secured, these arms 49 forming bearings for the shaft ends or pintles 50 of a freely rotatable ink-transferring or ductor roller 5|. Secured to the shaft 48 adjacent one end thereof is an arm 52 carrying at its free end a transversely disposed cam follower 53 coactable with a cam 54 secured to and rotatable with the aforesaid shaft 4a.

By adjustment of the screws i8, the end of the blade I6 is moved into the proper coacting relation with respect to the fountain roller 20 so that, upon rotation of the latter, the ink is fed from the fountain in the proper manner so as to be on that surface of said fountain roller 20 which is exteriorly of the fountain. It will be understood that the fountain defined by the blade IS, the sections l3a, l3a and the fountain roller 23 is otherwise liquid-tight so that ink from the body of ink I escapes from the fountain only along the edge of the blade l6.

Assuming that the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the hand wheel 44 may be rotated to impart, through the disclosed gear arrangement, rotary movement to the shaft 38 whereby, under the control of the eccentrics 31,

the respective slides 30 are moved in unison and at the same speed along the inclined tracks provided therefor, respectively. In so doing, the gear wheel 32a is moved into meshing engagement with the gear wheel 33a, and the auxiliary roller 32 is moved into engagement with the fountain roller 20.

When the printing press is placed in operation, rotation imparted to the shaft 4a causes cyclic movement of the connecting arm 24 under control of the eccentric 26 whereby the arm 22 is oscillated to produce, through the pawl 25a and ratchet wheel 26, step-by-step rotative movement of the fountain roller 20 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1. By reason of the mechanical connection provided by the gear wheels 3312 and 32a, the auxiliary roller 32 is rotated step-by-step in synchronism with the rotative movement of the roller 20. When the fountain roller 20 is rotated as described immediately above, a coating of ink is spread on the surface area thereof as the latter recedes step-by-step from the edge of the blade 96 and, as will clearly appear, the ink thus spread on said fountain roller 20 is transferred to the surface of the auxiliary roller 32.

As the parts are shown in Fig. l, the ductor roller 5! is positively held in engagement with the ink-distributing roller in. This condition exists by reason of the fact that the high surface of the cam 54; is in engagement with the cam. follower 53 at this time. As rotative movement of the shaft la continues, the high surface of the cam 54 recedes from the cam follower 53 and is replaced by the low surface of said cam When this happens, the ductor roller 5! swings under the influence of gravity or by spring action in. a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1, until the surface thereof cornes into engageme the surface of the auxiliary roller 32. rollers last named are in engagement, rotation of the auxiliary roller 32 is effected as described above and, as a result, some rotative movement is impartedto the ductor roller 5i which, accordingly, takes up a charge of ink. As soon the high surface of the cam 54 again engages the cam follower 53, the ductor roller is swung to the position shown in Fig. 1 where it again engages the ink-distributing roller ID with resultant transfer of a supply of ink thereto.

It will be understood that the operations involving the rollers 20, 32 and 5| as described above may and preferably do occur in the same rapid sequence as exemplified, for example, in the prior art movements of fountain and ductor rollers. Accordingly, individual charges of ink are transferred at a rapid rate to the ink-distributing roller H] from which the ink is transferred in the usual way to the plate cylinder I and thence to the blanket cylinder.

The above described oscillatory movement of the ductor roller 51 is well known to the art when such movement occurs between an ink-distributing roller. such as the roller l and a fountain roller, such as the roller 20. However, by my invention as described above, the ductor roller [0 oscillates between an ink-distributing roller l0 and the auxiliary roller 32. By virtue of the provision of such an arrangement, a number of important and novel advantages accrue.

Thus, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 4, the auxiliary roller 32 is geared to the fountain roller 20 so that movement of the fountain roller 20 is transmitted to the auxiliary roller 32. Preferably, although not necessarily, the gear arrangement is such that the auxiliary roller 32 is rotated faster, for example, twice as fast more or less, than the fountain roller 20. It results, therefore, that relative movement between the two rollers 20 and 32 occurs while both of said rollers are rotating. As a result, there is a grinding or analogous action on the ink between the engaging roller surfaces with the result that the ink rating press.

is rendered more smooth with elimination of undissolved particles. This, obviously, is a distinct advantage as regards improvement of the printed products.

In addition, the ink adhering to the surface of the auxiliary roller 32 is thinner, i. e., more spreading has occurred, than occurs with respect to the ink on that surface of the fountain roller 20 exteriorly of the fountain. This beneficial result arises primarily by reason of the higher peripheral speed of the auxiliary roller 32 compared to the fountain roller 20.

In connection with the foregoing description,- it was stated that the hand wheel 44 could be manipulated to a desired extent so as to bring the auxiliary roller 32 into contacting relation with the fountain roller 20. Obviously, the coupling thus effected may be either close or loose as desired; By a reading taken from the index 46 and pointer 41, the same coupling may be obtained with accuracy at any subsequent time. Therefore, even though the adjustment between the fountain roller 20 and the auxiliary roller 32 is necessarily changed as may be required for cleaning purposes, for example, the previous degree of adjustment may readily be obtained by reestablishing a previous index-pointer reading. This is advantageous because insuring substantial uniformity as regards appearance between jobs printed at diiferent' times.

Another important feature of my invention relates to the fact that the adjusting arrangement for the auxiliary roller 32 is so constructed and arranged that said auxiliary roller 32' together with the gear wheel 32a therefor may be moved to idle position with respect to the fountain roller 20 and the gear wheel 330., Fig. 7.

When this adjustment has been completed, the

ductor roller 5| may oscillate between the fountain roller 20 and the ink-distributing roller l free from'any contact with the auxiliary roller 32. This construction is advantageous in case the operator should desire to operate the printing press in the usual manner as well known in the art.

. In view of the fact that the throw of the ductor roller is necessarily different if either the fountain roller 20 or the auxiliary roller 32 is to be engaged as desired, Figs. 7 and 6, it follows that the low surface of the cam 54 should be sufficiently low so that the cam follower 53 does not engage therewith for either position of the ductor roller 5| as shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

As shown on the drawings, the auxiliary roller 32 should be formed from metal the same as' the fountain roller 20. Under such circumstances, there is a rubber-to-metal contact between the ductor roller and either of the rollers first named. The arrangement of my'invention is readily applicable to any type of printing press as mentioned herein and, among such presses, for example, is the improved Rutherford metal deco- It will be understood that the material to be printed upon or decorated may be paper, metal or otherwise as desired. In all cases, by my invention, improved ink distribution is obtained on the final product with marked elimination of the streaks found in prior art products. Further, as stated, the uniformity of appearance on jobs printed at different times may be preserved to a marked degree.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing press, the combination with a fountain roller, and means'for imparting stepby-step rotative movement to said fountain roller, of an ink distributing roller, a ductor roller for periodically transferring ink to said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller for transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ductor roller, and means independent of the exterior surface of said fountain roller for imparting rotative movement to said auxiliary roller.

2. In a printing press, the combination with a fountain roller, and means forimparting stepby-step rotative movement to said fountain roller, of an ink distributing roller, a ductor roller for periodically transferring ink to said ink-distributing roller. an auxiliary roller for'transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ductor roller, and means controlled by said fountain roller for imparting step-by-step rotative movement to said auxiliary roller.

3. Ina printing press, the combination with a fountain'roller, and means for imparting stepby-step rotative movement to said fountain roller, of an ink-distributing roller, a ductor rollerfor periodically transferring ink to said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller for transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ductor roller, and means controlled -by said fountain roller for imparting step-by-step rotative movement to said auxiliary roller, saidauxiliary roller being rotated substantially faster than said fountain roller.

4. In a printing press, the combination with a fountain roller, of an ink-distributing roller, a ductor roller periodically engageable first with said fountain roller and then with said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller disposed adjacent said fountain roller in suitable spaced relation with respect thereto, and means for moving said auxiliary roller into engagement with said fountain roller, said auxiliary roller, when positioned as last described, being periodically engaged by said ductor roller and said auxiliary roller, when thus positioned, preventing engagement of said ductor roller with said fountain roller.

5. In a printing press, a fountain roller, an ink-distributing roller, a ductor roller for periodically transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ink-distributing roller, an' auxiliary roller,

and precision means for adjusting said auxiliary roller toward and into contact with said fountain roller, said auxiliary roller, when positioned as last described, being periodically engaged by said ductor roller and saidauxiliary roller, when thus positioned, preventing engagement of said ductor roller with said fountain roller.

6. In a printing press, a fountain roller, an ink-distributing roller, 2. ductor roller for periodically transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller, and precision means for adjusting said auxiliary roller toward and into contact with said fountain roller, said auxiliary roller, when positioned as last described, being periodically engaged by said ductor roller and said auxiliary roller, when thus positioned, preventing engagement of said ductor means comprising eccentrics engageable, respectively, with opposite ends of the shaft for said auxiliary roller, said precision means further comprising mechanism for operating said eccentrics in unison.

7. In a printing press, a fountain roller, an ink-distributing roller, a ductor roller for periodicaliy transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller, and precision means for adjusting said auxiliary roller toward and into contact with said fountain roller, said auxiliary roller, when positioned as last described, being periodically engaged by said ductor roller and said auxiliaryroller, when thus positioned, preventing engagement of said ductor roller with said fountain roller, said precision means comprising eccentrics engageable, respectively, with opposite ends of the shaft for said auxiliary roller, said precision means further comprising mechanism for operating said eccentrics in unison, said mechanism comprising a shaft and worm and worm wheel mechanism for rotating said shaft.

8. In a printing press, a fountain roller, an ink-distributing roller, a ductor roller for periodically transferring ink to said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller for transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ductor roller, and means for moving said auxiliary roller from a position where it is spaced from said fountain roller to another position where it is in engagement with said fountain roller.

9. In a printing press, the combination with a fountain roller, and means for imparting rotative movement to said fountain roller, of an inkdistributing roller, 2. ductor roller for periodically transferring ink to said ink-distributing roller, an auxiliary roller for transferring ink from said fountain roller to said ductor roller, and means for rotating said auxiliary roller at a different rate of speed than the speed of rotation of said fountain roller.

WILLIAM N. MISURACA. 

